On politics in the Golden State

Julia Brownley backed by national Democrats

May 8, 2012 | 3:03
pm

If there was ever much doubt that Assemblywoman Julia Brownley is the choice of national Democratic leaders for an open Ventura County congressional seat, recent campaign developments should have pretty much erased it.

Late last week, the House Majority PAC, which is raising and spending money to elect Democrats to Congress, began running a cable television ad supporting Brownley, a Democrat who moved from Santa Monica to Oak Park for the race. The group spent about $156,000 on the ads, which are scheduled to run for a week.

On Tuesday, California’s two U.S. senators, both Democrats, announced they were endorsing Brownley. Sen. Dianne Feinstein called Brownley “a champion for education in California.” Sen. Barbara Boxer said Brownley could be counted on “to protect California’s environment, women’s health and Medicare for our seniors, which have been under unprecedented attack by the extreme right.”

There are three other Democrats in the race—Realtor/entrepreneur/CEO Albert Maxwell Goldberg, Oxnard Harbor Commissioner Jess Herrera and independent small businessman David Cruz Thayne.

Republicans have rallied around state Sen. Tony Strickland of Moorpark. Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks, who switched her registration from Republican to decline-to-state, also is on the ballot.

The newly drawn 26th Congressional District has been targeted by both major political parties. Democrats hold a slight registration edge over Republicans, 40%-36%, with 19% of voters unaffiliated with any state-recognized party.

The two-top finishers in the June 5 primary, regardless of party, will advance to the November general election.